How To Set a Faster DNS Server in Windows for Better Internet Speed

1. What Is a DNS Server and Why Change It?

A DNS (Domain Name System) server converts readable domain names like `www.google.com` into numerical IP addresses that computers use to connect to websites. Every time you access a webpage, a DNS query is performed.

Your computer typically uses your Internet Service Provider’s default DNS server. However, these are not always the fastest or most reliable. Switching to a public DNS server—such as Google’s or Aliyun’s—can improve connection speed, reliability, and sometimes even security.

2. How To Change the DNS Server in Windows

Follow these detailed steps to manually set a custom DNS server in Windows 10 or 11:

1. Open Control Panel：Type “Control Panel” or “control” in the Windows search bar and open it.
2. Navigate to Network Settings：Go to “Network and Internet” > “Network and Sharing Center”.
3. Access Your Network Connection: Under “View your active networks”, click the connection currently in use (e.g., “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi”).
4. Modify Adapter Properties:
   In the window that appears, click “Properties”.
   Then double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”.
5. Set Custom DNS Server Addresses:
   Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
   Enter a preferred DNS server, such as:
   `8.8.8.8` (Google DNS) or `223.5.5.5` (Aliyun).
   Enter an alternate DNS server, such as:
   `8.8.4.4` (Google) or `223.6.6.6` (Aliyun).
6. Click “OK” to apply changes.

3. How To Test and Verify DNS Server Performance

Once configured, you can test if your new DNS server is working and check its speed:

1. Open Command Prompt: Type “CMD” in the search bar and open the Command Prompt.
2. Use the `ping` Command: Run commands such as:

   ping www.baidu.com
   ping 8.8.8.8
   ping 223.5.5.5

3. The results will show response time (in milliseconds). Lower values indicate faster speeds.
4. Compare Different DNS Servers: Try different servers and record their ping times. For users in China, Aliyun DNS often has much better latency than Google DNS.

4. Best DNS Options Based on Location

Choosing the right DNS server depends on your region:

In Mainland China:

1. Aliyun: `223.5.5.5` / `223.6.6.6`
2. 114DNS: `114.114.114.114`

Outside China:

1. Google DNS: `8.8.8.8` / `8.8.4.4`
2. Cloudflare DNS: `1.1.1.1` / `1.0.0.1`

Testing various options using `ping` will help you find the best-performing server.

5. Conclusion: Boost Internet Speed With a Simple DNS Change

Optimizing your DNS settings is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve internet speed without upgrading your plan. It helps reduce latency, speeds up website access, and improves overall user experience. Try experimenting with different DNS providers to find the one that suits your needs best.

6. Demo Video

You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.